Finnish parliament speaker says "world may not realise WWIII has begun"

Jussi Halla-aho, the speaker of Finland's Parliament, has suggested that the world could already be in the midst of World War III. He has warned that ignoring the realities of global conflicts may result in even more severe consequences.

"If we don't know whether we're at war, it's always best to assume that we are," Halla-aho said, as quoted by Yle.

Halla-aho believes the world may not realise that World War III has already begun, saying, "Because we're trying so hard to avoid it." He warned that ignoring the facts will only lead to greater challenges.  

His remarks align with a statement made last Sunday by Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson who said, "Sweden is not at war. But it is not a state of peace either."  

Halla-aho stressed that supporting and defending Ukraine should be a top political priority. He argued that the war in Ukraine deserves far more attention in Finnish politics than it currently receives.  

The speaker of parliament also highlighted the need for Finland to set clear goals and invest in achieving them.  

A former leader of the Finns Party, Halla-aho holds a doctorate in Slavic studies and is fluent in both Russian and Ukrainian, having worked at Finland’s embassy in Kyiv during the 1990s. 

At the end of 2023, Jussi Halla-aho delivered a speech in Ukrainian to the parliament in Kyiv.